Through three quarters, the only thing beating the defenses of Ouachita and Slidell was too much defense: both teams reached the double bonus early in the first half and free throws accounted for an inordinate sum of first-half scoring.

Zach Hannibal was the first to crack the code.

Ouachita’s senior guard scored on back-to-back possessions early in the fourth quarter to build a six-point lead that the Lions never let go of in their 60-50 win in the first round of the LHSAA boys basketball playoffs.

After Hannibal’s layups, 11 of Ouachita’s 13 points from that point forward were scored from the free throw line. Free throws were a problem spot for the Lions early – Ouachita went 9 for 19 from the charity stripe in the first half – before finding a savior.

“You got to realize who was shooting in the fourth quarter – Jay Head,” Madison said.

Eleven of Ouachita’s last 13 points were scored on free throws, Head making eight of those 11 free throws. Head ended with a game-high 26 points. Hannibal and Rod Hall added seven points each, in addition to six from DJ Williams, all six of them free throws.